It’s a constant refrain: We’re too stressed out. But how stressed out are we really? An adrenal saliva test can tell you whether your cortisol (the stress hormone) is too high or too low, whether your circadian rhythm (the sleep-wake cycle) is normal, and also pin point the cause of your symptoms: adrenal fatigue or high adrenal hormones.

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue

• Fatigue
• Slow to get going in the morning
• Energy crash in the afternoon
• Craving sweets, caffeine, or nicotine
• Unstable behavior; moodiness
• Shaky, light-headed, or irritable if meals are delayed
• Inability to stay asleep
• Dizziness when moving from sitting to standing

Symptoms of high adrenal hormones

• Excess belly fat
• Insulin resistance (high blood sugar)
• Insomnia
• Not feeling rested in the morning
• Women grow facial hair; men grow breasts
• PCOS in women (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

How to do the adrenal saliva test

The adrenal saliva test requires you to collect a small vial of saliva several times throughout the day. Adrenal stress is always caused by something else, such as unstable blood sugar, a chronic infection, or an autoimmune disease. So the importance of the adrenal saliva test is that it allows us to track the progress of a protocol.

One test is a good place to start, but the second and third tests tell us if we’re on the right track with a protocol; adrenal health should improve as conditions resolve. If things do not improve, it means we must dig deeper to find out what is taxing the body.

Measuring the circadian rhythm

An abnormal sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, is one symptom of adrenal stress. A normal circadian rhythm shows high cortisol in the morning and low cortisol at night. This makes us alert when we wake up and tired before bed. For many, this rhythm is backwards, causing fatigue in the morning and insomnia at night. In addition, instead of the usual gradual decline throughout the day, cortisol may suddenly drop in the afternoon, causing an energy crash.

The stages of stress

By measuring circadian rhythm, precursor hormones (DHEA and 17 hydroxyprogesterone), and cortisol levels, the adrenal saliva test can tell you whether you are in the “alarm reaction” of high adrenal hormones, in adrenal exhaustion, or somewhere in between. Contrary to popular belief, one does not necessarily progress from alarm reaction to adrenal fatigue; adrenal function can jump around between phases, or stay in one phase for years.

The adrenal saliva test also measures total SIgA (secretory antibodies). SIgA levels measure the impact of stress on the immune system. When SIgA is low, it means a person is more susceptible to food intolerances, infections, and other assaults on the immune system.

A variety of herbal and nutritional compounds can profoundly influence adrenal function, but they are not the first line of defense. You and your doctor must first ferret out what is causing your adrenal stress and make addressing that a priority. Only then is adrenal support appropriate.

Ask my office how you can support your adrenal health.

Do you feel toxic chemicals are out to get you? Studies link many chronic illnesses with toxic chemicals in our everyday environment. Man-made chemicals, pesticides, pollution, plastics, heavy metals, and artificial food additives are a normal part of life now. Even radiation fallout from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan is now on the list of health concerns for many Americans.

Toxic chemicals are associated with such conditions as autoimmune disease, obesity and insulin resistance, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, cancer, migraines, depression, and hormonal imbalances.

Although we can minimize our exposure to toxic chemicals, we cannot completely escape them. So, short of wearing a non-toxic spacesuit (living in a plastic bubble is out because it will off-gas toxic chemicals), how can we protect ourselves?

Good toxic chemical defense starts with the diet

A variety of herbs and nutrients have been shown to protect the body from toxic chemicals and boost the liver’s detoxification abilities. However, those compounds can’t do their job if your diet is even more toxic than your environment. You can kick-start your defense system with an anti-inflammatory diet that cuts out sweet, starchy, and pro-inflammatory foods.

Also, ditching food intolerances is vital for boosting your defenses against toxic chemicals, so take this issue seriously. Going gluten-free is necessary for many, and you may find you need to eliminate other foods as well.

Beyond that, studies have found a number of natural compounds that buffer the damage caused by environmental chemicals. These compounds work to tame inflammation, boost our antioxidant status, and support liver detoxification.

Resveratrol and curcumin for toxic inflammation

Toxins do their damage by setting off inflammatory cascades throughout the body that can be difficult to unwind. Studies have shown high doses of trans-resveratrol and curcumin, especially when taken together, can put the brakes on toxin-induced inflammation. Ask my office about a high-dose, liposomal form of these compounds, which have been shown to be highly effective.

Boost your body’s defenses against toxic chemicals

Glutathione is our master antioxidant, taking the bullet from toxins to protect cells from damage. When your glutathione levels drop, you open yourself up to toxin-induced health problems. Nutrients that boost glutathione levels in your cells include n-acetyl-cysteine, cordyceps, Gotu Kola, milk thistle, L-glutamine, and alpha lipoic acid. 

Turn your body into a detox machine

Another defense is to turn your body into an efficient detoxing machine. Although the liver was not designed to process many man-made chemicals, it still needs support in the face of toxic chemicals. When toxic chemicals overburden the body, they create inflammation and damage, which taxes the liver. As a result, it may not be able to properly metabolize many compounds from both inside and outside the body. This adds to the body’s toxic load and makes it more vulnerable to environmental chemicals.

In addition to taming inflammation and boosting your antioxidant status, you may also need to support the different detoxification pathways in your liver. Nutrients that support these pathways include methyl B12, selenium, molybdenum, dandelion root, milk thistle, trimethylglycine, Panax ginseng, and MSM. Be sure to also ask my office about effective liver support.

Do beautiful spring days have you cooped up inside, sneezing and sniffing miserably? Before reaching for the antihistamines, consider the role your gut health plays in allergy symptoms.

Allergies actually begin long before the hallmark symptoms of sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes manifest. How?

An estimated 80 percent of the immune system resides in the gut, and when digestive problems set in, immune problems are sure to follow. A chronically inflamed gut—which causes indigestion, heartburn, bloating, pain, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel disorders, and more—sends the immune system into overdrive.

As a result, the body becomes hypersensitive and overreacts to stuff it shouldn’t, including pollen, grass, and other triggers associated with spring.

Because allergy symptoms frequently start with poor digestive function, the gut is a great place to start for relief.

What causes allergy symptoms?

Several factors contribute to the digestive problems that give rise to allergy symptoms, including:

• Dysbiosis: This is a very common scenario in which bad bacteria in the gut overwhelm the beneficial bacteria. Processed foods, a diet lacking in cultured and fermented foods, and antibiotic use contribute to dysbiosis.
• Gluten and other food intolerances: Gluten has been shown to damage the lining of the intestines. Also, many people have an immune reaction to gluten and other foods, such as dairy or soy. Eating these foods constantly provokes the immune system and damages the lining of the intestines.
• Low stomach acid: This may seem counter-intuitive as so many people complain of an acidic stomach, but, in fact, low stomach acid often underlies heartburn and acid reflux. When stomach acid is low, undigested food backwashes into the esophagus (heartburn), opportunistic bacteria overtake the stomach, improperly digested food degrades the intestinal lining, and bacteria and other pathogens are able enter into the intestines. Sufficient stomach acid is also necessary to trigger the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release enzymes, two important processes for digestion.
• Poor liver detoxification: Gut damage causes chronic inflammation, which keeps the immune system on red alert and overburdens the liver. As a result, the liver can’t adequately detoxify pathogens that escaped through the damaged intestinal lining into the bloodstream. This is another factor that triggers the immune system and leads to allergies.

Fix the gut to fix allergies

Repairing gut health involves addressing the various factors above. The exact protocol may vary from person to person depending on his or her individual needs. However, a great place to start is with an anti-inflammatory diet that removes food intolerances and calms inflammation, helping to restore balance to an overactive immune system. We can also use lab tests to gain insight into the specific nature of your intestinal problems. Probiotics, and nutritional compounds to improve digestion, support detoxification, and tame an overstimulated immune system can also help repair the gut and hence the immune system.

Ask my office for ideas on how you can get to the root of your seasonal allergy symptoms this year.

Website Resources For Gluten Free Living

Living Without Magazine – check out their site for useful tips, recipes, and articles.  We also subscribe to this magazine so you’ll find it in our office.

Gluten Free Shopping – great resource to get started grocery shoping with a gluten free lifestyle.

Recipes For Gluten Free, Dairy Free & Soy Free

Here are some great sites (and blogs) to check out for recipes.

Living Without Magazine Recipes

Food Allergy Daily

Food Allergy Network

World’s Healthiest Foods

Gluten Free Works

Cook It Allergy Free

Allergy Chef

The Whole Gang

Gluten Free Diva

The Spunky Coconut

Elana’s Pantry

Gluten and Dairy Free

More Recipes From Gluten Free Manufacturer’s Websites

Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

Jules Gluten Free

So Delicious Coconut Milk Products

Enjoy Life Products

Glutino Products

Cookbooks with Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Soy Free Recipes

There is a wide variety of cookbooks available!  Here are some of our favorites:

Cooking For Isaiah

All Natural Allergy Cookbook

Bake Deliciously Gluten & Dairy Free

Homestyle Gluten & Dairy Free

The Autism Cookbook:  101 Gluten & Dairy Free

The Spunky Coconut

The Gluten Free Vegan

Resources On The Blog

And don’t forget that we have additional recipes on our blog.  Be sure to see the tab “Food Sensitivities” to find some recipes.

There are so many great options for you at the grocery store right now! It’s so different than 20 years ago when you could only get a handful of products at the health food store, which was a long drive away!

Gluten free and dairy free options are everywhere you shop these days! You can find gluten free and dairy free products at the following stores in the Lake Norman area:

• Harris Teeter
• Bi-Lo
• Wal-Mart and Target
• Earth Fare
• Healthy Home Market
• Trader Joe’s

Gluten Free Grocery Guide

There is a terrific book called “The Essential Gluten Free Grocery Guide” from Triumph Dining that will help you along your gluten free shopping journey!  They also have another book for dining out called “The Essential Gluten Free Restaurant Guide”.

Gluten Free Grocery Shopping Tips

Staying gluten-free is all about choosing the right foods, so what could be more important than grocery shopping? But most of us don’‘t want to think too much about it—we just want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. So shopping gluten-free requires a bit of a mind-shift, but it will soon become second nature with a little practice and planning.

1. Take your time.  Don’‘t rush it. You’‘ll need time to read labels, compare and make informed decisions. Try to make your shopping trips at the same days and times each week so you can plan around them; minimize stress by going at off-peak times (mid-week and mid-days). And above all, plan ahead so you can hit the ground running when you grab your cart. Here, more tips for making your shopping trip a success. 
2. Pre-planning goes a long way!  A little legwork in advance will save you plenty of time in the store. Try these:•Research. Get familiar with brands you can count on for gluten-free options; call manufacturers or visit their websites to find out how they verify their products. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet finalized regulations to govern the term “gluten-free,” definitions can vary. For example, all General Mills products labeled “gluten-free” have undergone extensive ingredient, manufacturing, and product analysis. Click here for more information on gluten-free labeling.•Make a list, so you’‘ll pick up only what you need and avoid impulse buys that might not meet your “safe” criteria. Organize it by each section of the supermarket; you’‘ll more quickly through the aisles without back-tracking. Include the brand names of foods you’‘ve already found to be gluten-free and delicious, to help you find them faster–but don’‘t forget to re-check their labels, in case their ingredients have changed.•Bring your cell phone in case you need to call a manufacturer to double check a confusing ingredient or need to verify that their processing methods are truly gluten-free.

   •Frying. Eat a safe snack if you’‘re hungry. Being surrounded by all those appetizing but not-always-safe foods (and free samples!) will sorely test your resolve if you’‘re starving. Have a snack first that includes a little fiber and protein for staying power–say, apple slices dabbed with peanut butter.

3. Making the store work for you!  With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket – and over 2000 of them gluten-free, you’‘ve got plenty of food choices to ponder. Keep the following pointers in mind to navigate each aisle faster.Produce: Load up on beautiful produce—the more colorful, the better. Brightly colored vegetables and fruits tend to be packed with healthy nutrients—including fiber and folic acid, nutrients that can be lacking in gluten-free diets (since fortified grain products are often good sources of both). Don’‘t forget naturally gluten-free starchy vegetables like potatoes and winter squash—great replacements for grain-based carbohydrate foods.Dairy and eggs: The fresh, unprocessed items here are naturally gluten-free, such as fluid milk, natural cheese, and “in-shell” eggs. But read labels carefully on processed cheeses and spreads, yogurts, fat-free “enhanced” milks with added thickeners, or flavored egg substitutes.

   Meats/Poultry/Fish: This section is generally gluten-free; however, some meats and poultry can be enhanced with gluten-containing broths and flavorings, as can imitation crabmeat (surimi). Check labels to make sure no gluten-containing ingredients were added. Avoid marinated items unless they’‘re labeled “gluten-free.”

   Grains and flours, pastas, beans: Nowadays there’‘s usually a generous selection of gluten-free grains like rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet and teff, and gluten-free flours and pastas made from them. Beans are another terrific gluten-free source of carbohydrates–protein- and fiber-rich, to boot. If you buy them canned, choose plain (unsauced) varieties. Just don’‘t buy any of these items in bulk bins, where cross-contamination from other non-gluten-free bins can easily occur. It’‘s all too easy for someone to use the same scoop to help themselves to (wheat-based) pasta, then the (gluten-free) rice flour!

   Cereals, breads and crackers: Shop around. Since this is one of the fastest-growing areas where gluten-free products are being developed, there are lots of foods to choose from and you’‘re sure to find plenty you like. Read labels carefully to find truly gluten-free options, and remember “wheat-free” doesn’‘t necessarily mean something is gluten-free!

   Prepared foods and soups: Be especially vigilant in your label-reading here. Unless they’‘re specifically labeled “gluten-free,” most of these products contain added gluten in the form of broths, thickeners and flavorings. Stick with manufacturers with whom you’‘ve verified their “gluten-free” products.

   Condiments, sauces, gravies, dressings and spices: This section can be a minefield for a gluten-avoider. If an ingredient sounds vague—”seasonings,” for example—check with the manufacturer before buying. Even if a product doesn’‘t contain any gluten, it might be processed in facilities that also handle wheat-based products; some spices may have gluten-containing starches added to reduce clumping. Contact the manufacturer to verify you’‘re getting a gluten-free product.

   Frozen foods: Check out frozen vegetables and fruits for convenience and good nutrition; since they’‘re picked and quick-frozen at their peak, they’‘re often a better bet than off-season “fresh” produce. Choose plain frozen vegetables (without sauce, which can have gluten-containing food starches and flavorings). Proceed carefully with frozen entrees—especially those with sauces (unless labeled gluten-free), French fries, and breaded fried items like fish sticks. Likewise, ice creams and frozen yogurts may contain gluten-based starches to help prevent ice crystals from forming.

    

Source:  Gluten Freely “Living Gluten Free”

Fortunately, revolutionary breakthroughs in gluten testing are now available from Cyrex Labs. Cyrex tests for immune reactions to 12 different compounds of the gluten protein, foods the body mistakes for gluten, and other food sensitivities.

People can react to 12 different components of wheat

Wheat is made up of more than 100 different components that can cause an immune reaction in people. Cyrex Labs used extensive research to pinpoint the 12 most common and screens for an immune reaction to one or more of them. These include peptides, proteins, and enzymes associated with wheat.

Until now, testing for gluten intolerance has only been against one of those components, alpha gliadin.

This new test catches those with celiac disease or those who should be gluten-free because they react to a component other than alpha gliadin.

Testing for foods that cross-react with gluten

It’s frustrating for both the practitioner and the patient when a gluten-free diet fails to help remedy health issues in a person who is clearly gluten-intolerant or has celiac disease. In fact, studies show that many people with celiac disease don’t recover gut health on a gluten-free diet. Research by scientists at Cyrex shows this may be due to cross-reactivity and food sensitivities.

Cross-reactivity is a situation in which the body mistakes another food for gluten and reacts accordingly, causing symptoms of gluten intolerance. Cyrex Labs tests for foods that may cross-react with gluten and for foods that are most often the source of sensitivities.

Oats and yeast cross-react with gluten, as does dairy, which has a structure that closely resembles that of gluten. In fact, 50 percent of people who are sensitive to gluten are also sensitive to dairy. A person with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance may need to give up dairy and other foods to regain health.

Coffee cross-reacts with gluten in many people

Cyrex researchers were surprised to find coffee has the highest rate of cross-reaction with gluten. In other words, some people’s immune system mistakes coffee for gluten, triggering a reaction. This test informs people whether one needs to give up coffee to prevent gluten cross-reactivity.

The most common foods the gluten-free person may need to avoid:

• Cow dairy
• American cheese
• Milk chocolate
• Sesame
• Hemp
• Rye
• Barley
• Polish wheat
• Buckwheat
• Sorghum
• Millet
• Spelt
• Amaranth
• Quinoa
• Yeast
• Tapioca
• Oats
• Coffee
• Corn
• Rice
• Potato

This panel can help explain why people with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance still react to foods after going gluten-free and even dairy-free.

Gluten linked to 55 diseases, most autoimmune

Gluten has been linked in studies to 55 diseases so far, most of them autoimmune. The effect of gluten on brain and nervous tissue is significantly worse and more far-reaching than researchers once thought. Yet, due to poor lab testing and general misinformation, many people continue to eat gluten, unaware it is harming them.

Thanks to more advanced testing, we can now better catch celiac disease and gluten intolerance and go beyond a gluten-free diet to restore health.

While the importance of play for children is well understood, many don’t realize it’s a necessary form of stress relief for adults. One also could argue it’s the most enjoyable part of a wellness plan—say compared to giving up donuts or eating more broccoli—but can take just as much thought and practice to implement.

Scientists have found ample play is necessary for the proper development of children and young animals. Crows, for instance, have been observed playing tug-of-war, ganging up together on a cat, or swinging upside down from a branch. Dolphins, chimpanzees, otters, and even octopus play throughout their lives.

Play develops motor skills, socialization, problem solving, creativity, conflict resolution, and mental and physical health. In fact, studies show that preventing play causes dysfunction in animals, and one researcher even found that most serial killers did not play as children.

Grown-ups have forgotten how to play

Unfortunately, we Americans, who lead the industrialized nations with the longest work hours, have lost touch with the importance of play and the stress relief it can bring. A life of all work and no play (or all television and no play) makes us more vulnerable to stress-related diseases, depression, interpersonal violence, and addiction, according to Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul, and founder of The National Institute of Play. Brown has conducted more than 6,000 play studies on a wide range of people, and says play is a particularly important form of stress relief in down times, such as the current economic situation.

Have you forgotten how to play? To stoke the dormant play pathways in your brain, Brown says to recall how you played as a child, and then experiment with what sounds fun. It could be roller skating, horse riding, basketball, crafting, storytelling, or even playing fetch with the dog. The objective is to forget you’re engaging in a powerful form of stress relief because you’re having so much fun.

The elements of successful play

Successful play is more a state of mind than a specific activity, and the health benefits go beyond stress relief. Regular play will make you feel better about yourself, stimulate brain activity, enable you to transform negative experiences, boost creativity and imagination, and help you connect with others.

Bottom line: Regular play simply makes people happier, and happiness is a great antidote to stress.

According to Brown, and Diane Ackerman, author of Deep Play, genuine play has the following qualities:

• Play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun
• It is not about improving a time or score, or winning at all costs
• Play has its own place, separate from the rest of life (a basketball court, the roller rink, a favorite trail, or even your back yard)
• Play has a prearranged time—it’s important to make time to play
• Play is about exuberance, license, and abandon
• Play requires freedom—you do it because it is enjoyable, not because you’re supposed to
• Play involves a “make believe” element
• Play is enjoyed for its own sake

Gluten free and dairy free options are everywhere you shop these days!  You can find gluten free and dairy free products at the following stores in the Lake Norman area:

• Harris Teeter
• Bi-Lo
• Wal-Mart and Target
• Earth Fare
• Healthy Home Market
• Trader Joe’s

Here is a list of some of the newest gluten free and/or dairy free products available:

Choffy – 100% brewed chocolate!  If you’re a coffee drinker and you can’t have coffee….you need to try this drink!  Check out the website at DrinkChoffy to learn more and find out where to buy.

Daiya – a non-dairy cheese alternative.  This is great on gluten free pizza and yes, it does melt!  You can buy it at Earth Fare or Healthy Home Market.

Enjoy Life Chocolate Granola Crunch – perfect blend of chocolaty and crunchy. I found myself snacking on this right out of the bag for days. It is also packed with B Vitamins, which are very important to Celiacs. Plus, it’s high in fiber, and definitely high in FLAVOR! If you love granola and are a choc-o-holic, this is the best of both worlds.  Find at Earth Fare or Healthy Home Market.

Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mega Chunks – just as good as the Enjoy Life mini chips… they just bring a bigger “chunkier” taste to your recipes. They’re perfect for adding to GF Brownies, making GF Chocolate Chunk Cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, pouring into a chocolate fountain, or even just eating right out of the bag if you need a chocolate fix!  Find at Earth Fare or Healthy Home Market.

Udi’s Muffin Tops – brand new and less calories than the full muffin…with all of the flavor!  Find these at Earth Fare and Healthy Home Market.

Udi’s Brownie Bites – yummy small bite-sized brownies that pack a big punch!  *These do have dairy* Find these at Eart Fare and Healthy Home Market.

Lundberg Farms Rice Chips – these chips pack a big punch and they are all made from brown rice!  Find these at Earth Fare and Healthy Home Market.

Rice Works Rice Chips – these chips are amazingly light and crispy!  Top your salads with them or enjoy them as a snack!  Find these at Harris Teeter or Wal-Mart.

Glutino’s Bagel Chips – these are brand new and are all the buzz!  You’ll be able to find these at Earth Fare and Healthy Market very soon.

Snyder’s Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks – a gluten free version of their famous pretzel sticks. Now you can enjoy the crunch of pretzels again! Find this at Harris Teeter or Earth Fare.

Amande Almond Milk Yogurt – this is the closest thing to real cow’s milk yogurt on the market.  Find this at Earth Fare and Healthy Home Market.

So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt and Ice Cream – what a great way to enjoy yogurt and ice cream!  Find this at Harris Teeter, Earth Fare and Healthy Home Market.

What are some of your favorite gluten free and/or dairy free products?  Share them with us here!

Dr. Green has developed a systematic approach to first, diagnosing and then treating each layer of your problem with a variety of painless techniques. We start all new patients with a series of tests to analyze your body’s neurological & metabolic systems and then put together a plan to improve your body’s performance.

Alternative Treatment & Therapy

Lake Norman Health and Wellness is proud to be the only clinic in the area to provide state of the art Chiropractic, Spinal Decompression Therapy, Brain Based Neurological Therapy (BBT) and Science Based Nutrition and Metabolic Treatments under one roof.

Depending on your condition, test results and examination findings, we are able to utilize all the tools we have at our disposal to treat your condition effectively.

Metabolic Treatment – During the course of this treatment we will seek to correct the imbalances in your metabolic system naturally, using all natural nutritional protocols and high quality nutraceuticals. This is also known as Functional Medicine.

Neurological Therapy – Using Brain Based Therapy, we can help awaken or train parts of your brain that may not be functioning properly. This can lead to vast improvements in your quality of life and lessen the severity of many chronic conditions.

Chiropractic Treatment – We provide advanced spinal correction utilizing “state-of-the-art” chiropractic techniques. Newer correction methods are safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. For an effective treatment plan, you will receive all the facts about our therapies by clicking one of the links below.

Let us help you with your chronic condition.

Conditions We Treat:

• Auto Accidents/Injuries
• Auto Immune Disease
• Chronic Back Pain & Neck Pain
• Disc Herniations & Spinal Stenosis
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable Bowel Disease/Gut Dysfunction
• Laser Therapies
• Miagraines or Chronic Headaches
• Peripheral Neuropathy & Restless Leg Syndrome
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) & Infertility
• Sciatica
• Thyroid & Metabolic Disorders
• Vertigo, Dizziness and Balance Dysfunction
• Weight Loss

How Do I Get Started?

We want to make it easy for you to learn if you are a candidate for chiropractic care. Just call our office at 704-987-3993 to schedule a consultation. If you have recent MRI reports, please bring them to your appointment so the doctor can review them and advise you about your treatment options.

Tips For Eating Out:

• Choose a restaurant that offers a gluten free menu.  A high percentage of  restaurants now offer them.  For a list of restaurants who offer gluten free menus, check Charlotte Celiac Connection or Allergy Eats.
• Check the menu in advance to determine what foods may be safe for you to eat. Most restaurants offer their menu on their website.
• Call ahead. While food in a restaurant is typically made when you order it, a lot of the components that go into a dish are prepped ahead of time (i.e. meats are often marinated ahead of time). If you call ahead and ask the chef to skip the marinade for one portion to cater to your needs, this may be helpful. It will be easier to communicate with the chef over the phone (provided you call during a slow time of day) than at the restaurant while he or she is in the middle of a busy mealtime rush.
• Be vocal about your food allergies and sensitivities as soon as you are seated. Be specific when you talk to the server and ask to speak to the chef, if possible.
• Ask about how things are cooked and/or prepared. Meats and vegetables are often cooked in butter (dairy). Many chicken dishes are made with chicken and/or soy. Meats may be cooked with fillers (soy). Ask for all seasonings to be left off. Seasonings are full of gluten.

Local Restaurants That Offer Gluten Free Options or Gluten Free Menu

*These offer a gluten free menu and other allergy information.